Delaware Racinos To Be First To Offer Legal Sports Betting Outside Of Nevada

Andy Faust - June 1, 2018 - 11:56am EDT

Now that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) has been overturned by the Supreme Court, there has been a race of sorts to see which state would have commercial sports betting available first. Surprisingly, that distinction will not go to New Jersey, as Delaware racinos are going to be the first to offer legal sports betting outside of Nevada.

This is an altogether unexpected development, as Delaware wasn’t really on anyone’s radar to be in the mix of the first states to take advantage of PASPA’s elimination. However, Delaware has quietly been sitting on existing sports betting legislation that was passed in 2009, and the state has been using this system to offer multi-game parlay bets on NFL games since then. (Delaware was one of the states “grandfathered” into PASPA on an extremely limited basis, making this “NFL parlay” form of sports betting – and only this form of sports betting – legal in the state.)

Because they have the existing infrastructure, Delaware legislators are apparently happy to let the state lottery oversee this new sports betting expansion, negating any reason to waste time arguing and voting on new legislation to govern the wagering pastime.

Delaware’s new comprehensive sports betting product will begin service on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at 1:30 PM. The wagering menu will include action on single-game lines and championship futures for NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, PGA, and NASCAR events, and the state’s three racino locations will be the first to host the sports betting lounges where DE residents can go to wager. That means that right now, folks living in or visiting the state will have to travel to the Delaware Park Racetrack, the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, or the Harrington Raceway and Casino in order to bet on the sports of their choice.

So far, there has been no word on when online sports betting will roll out (or whether or not an iPhone or Android app solution is in the works), but given the limited locales where sports betting will initially be accepted in Delaware, it seems like a sure thing that Internet-based sports betting will arrive sooner rather than later. After all, convenience is king, and mobile sports betting is where the lion’s share of the money is sure to be going forward.

Another thing to consider is that, since this sports betting initiative is being run by the Delaware Lottery, USAOnlineSportsbooks.com thinks it is conceivable that gas stations and other shops that offer lottery action will soon be able to provide DE residents with sports betting kiosks as well.

USAOnlineSportsbooks.com is for informational purposes only. If you're not sure about the sports betting laws in your state, please check with a lawyer or do more research to find if you're allowed to wager online. USAOnlineSportsbooks.com Sitemap